Speirg bed



(No Model.)

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UNITED STATES PATENT DANIEL ll. GAIL, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TOEDYVIN J. FOSTER, OF

SAME PLACE.

SPRIN SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 399,257, datedMarch 12, 1889.

Application filed March 10, 1888. Serial No. 266,900. (No model.)

To all whomz't may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL H. GAIL, a citizen of the United States, anda resident of Cleveland, county of Cuyahoga, and State of Ohio, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Spring-Beds and otherLike Articles, of which the following is a specification, the principleof the invention being herein explained and the best mode in which Ihave contemplated applying that principle, so as to distinguish it fromother inventions.

The object of my invention is an improved construction ot spring-bed,sol-as, carcushions, chair-cushions, and other analogous articles.

I will describe the article in reference to its use as a spring-bed,though I do not mean to limit myself to such use, for, with merely theaddition of the necessary upholsteriug the same structure in differentform affords a most suitable structure or foundation [or all kinds ofupholstered articles-as lounges, car seats and backs, sofas, chairs, andthe like.

My invention consists in the im n'ovomcni's hereinafter described andclaimed.

Referring to the drawings, Figure l is a plan view of the mattress,certain parts being broken away. Fig. i isa longitudinal verticalsection of the mattress, taken on the dotted line a: :u oi? Fig. 1, Fig.'3 a detail view, showing the improved mode of securing the spiralsprings to the crossbars.

A is a wovcirwirc mattress made in the usual manner as regards weaving,but having its strands running transversely of the length of the bedinstead of longitudinally, as is ordinarily the case. Passing throughthe outer meshes of the mattress and entirely surrounding the same isthe metalframe-work B, the two ends of which are secured to each otherin any suitable manner. In securing the mattress to the outer i'ramc,l3, no tension. or strain is brought to bear on the strands of themattress, as is usually done, and hence when weight is placed on themattress there is not such a tendency to straighten the strai'ids asthere is in a mat-tress that is stretched or tightly drawn before or atthe time of being placed I on or secured to the supporting-irame.

The lower metal frame-work, i", oi the bed is composed oi a series oiwires or rods, 0 c, i

respectively extending longitudinally and transversely of the bed, theirseveral points of intersection being formed by crimping them, wherebysaid rods at said points of intersection. interiit, the respective endsof both wires being secured in any suitable manner to the outer rod, D.Intermediate of said framework and the woven-wire mattress I secure aseries of spiral springs, E, one end of 6o each of said springs beingsecured at a pointof intersect-ion of the respective rods 0 0. By meansof crimping the rods any slipping of the same is largely overcome By theimproved manner of securing the springs to the rods 6 5 all possibilityof slipping on the part of the springs is absolutely p rcveni ed, andany twisting of the frame-work of the rods and all lateral andlongitudinal displacement of the latter relative to the frame-work arerendered impos- 7o siblc. The lower end portion. of each of said springsis wrapped around or caused to encircle the rod to which it iscontiguous to pass under or over the intersecting rod, then to passunder or over the said first rod again, and, finally, to encircle theintersecting rod. Thus each of said rods of the lower frame-work iscnwrapped by the lower end portion of each spiral spring engagingtherewith, and also has a secondary bearing againstsaid end portion. Thesprings oi? one rowhave engagement, first, with the longitudinal rods,and of the alternating row the engagementis primarily with thetransverse rods of the frame that is, the tree lower extremity of thespiral S5 springs of one transverse row of springs is wrapped or bent ortwisted iii-st around the adjacent longitudinal rod, thence passes underthe transverse rod that engages at that point with said longitudinalrod,thencc isbent over 0 the longitudinal rod on the side oi: the saidtransverse rod opposite to its first engagement with said loi'lgiijndinai rod, and thence is bent under and around the said transverse rod onthe opposite side oif said longitudinal rod to its point oi firstengagement with said transverse rod. on the next row oi transversesprings the engagement oi the free end of the spring is with thetransverse rod instead o'i with the liinigitiulinal rod that is, I00said free end is first bent or twisted around the transverse rod, thenceunder the longitudinal rod, thence over the transverse rod on the sideof the intersecting point of the two rodsopposite to its first point ofengagement with said transverse rod, and thence around the longitudinalrod on the side of the in tel-secting points of the two rods opposite toits first point of engagemett with said longitudinal rod. Thus the tworows of spiral springs, having, as may be said, alternate engagementwith the longitudinal and transverse rods relative to each other, act asbraces, thereby preventing any slipping of the frame-work. Again, itwill be seen I may, and in practice do, vary the engagement of the freeextremities of said springs by having said extremi ties of the springsin one transverse row engage alternate sides of the intersecting pointof the rods, thus adding an additional brace feature to their mode offastening and further insuringa rigid lock between the springs and theframe. This is an important feature to prevent any twisting ordisplacement of the rod-frame in addition to its being the most securemanner of attaching the springs.

The first wrap of the lower extremities of the spiral springs is aboutthe longitudinal rods. The succeeding row of springs is first wrappedabout the transverse rods. Thus the manner of attachment or engagementbetween the springs and the rods is alternate and tends to act as anadditional brace, the one bracing against transverse movement of thespring, the other bracing against longitudinal movement of the same. Theupper end portion, 6', of each of said spiral springs is secured to themattress in the following manner: A portion of the wire equal in lengthto the distance between the centers of the respective spirals isstraightened parallel with the mattress. Said portion is then insertedbetween the several meshes of the mattress and its extremity is bentdownward, said extremity coming substantially in the center of thespiral spring longitudinally adjacent to the first spring. The upperextremity of said adjacent spring is secured in the same way, and thussaid several upper extremt ties con jointly form a practicallycontinuous steel wire running longitudinally of the bed and serving tostiffen and strengthen the same. This mode of fastening the spirals attheir upper portion is very efficient to prevent either longitudinal orlateral motion of the same. It should be noticed that the extremities eof the spiral springs on the edge of the mattress also extend inwardlytoward the longitudinal center of the mattress. The said upper endportion of the wire, it will be noticed, is straight when insertedbetween the meshes of the mattress; but as the latter has its strandsextending transversely of the bed, and said strands are spirally woveninto.

one another, it follows that although said end portion of -the spring ismerely slipped longitudinally into position and then bent downward atits extremity, yet it may properly be designated as woven into saidmeshes, inasmuch as it alternately passes over-one strand.

and under the next one.

By means of the transverse direction of the mattress meshes, combinedwith the ad acent and supporting spiral springs, I produce a bed thatwill more readily and easily conform to the shape of a body recumbentthereon than the ordinary wire mattress that is stretched on a frame. Insecuring this mattress to the outer rod'no strain or tension is broughtto bear on the mattress, and consequently it is more limber and pliablethan it otherwise would be, the supporting spirals provlding theadditional requisite stiffness. In the ordinary form of spiral mattressthe greatest depression occurs at the point of greatest weight, themattress thence rising in a grad ual and unbroken curve to thesupporting frame-work. For instance, the greatest de pression in theordinary form of mattress is either at the point occupied by the hips orat the point occupied by the shoulders of the sleeper, and the mattressintermediate of the two points would be equally depressed; but in myform of mattress there would be a depression caused by the hips andanother by the shoulders, while the intermediate portion would be raisedabove said points by reason of the strands of the mattress extendingtransversely and not being stretched to a position and because of thesupportingsprings. Thus it conforms to the exact contour of the body,affording a more easy sup port for the same.

Another feature of great utility in my invention is its great strength.The rods of the lower frame work have crimped bearings against eachother at each point of intersection, and each said point is in turnimmovs ably secured to the lower-portion of its engaging spring, whilethe upper portions of the spirals have interwoven attachments to themeshes of the mattress, securing the upperextremities of said spiralsand affording additional ltmgitudinal strength and stiffness to the bed.

By reason of my making my lower framework of metal circular incross-section and crimping the rods at their points of intersection inaddition to my improved manner of securing the spiral springs to theframe-work and binding the frame-work together 1 obtain great rigidityand stiffness of the framework with a much less size and weight ofmetal, thus greatly cheapening the cost of construction.

As the complete structure is of lighter weight, it can. the more readilybe placed in position on a bedstead and removed therefrom, and as thecomponent parts are of less transverse area than usual there is lessopportunity for the deposit of dust and dirt, and by reason of its openstructure a greater opportunity is afforded for properly cleaning anddusting the same.

The outer peripheries of the spiral springs at their upper portionclosely engage with and support the outer edge of the mattress and theouter supporting frame-wor and at t'ord a yiehling but stable supportfor the edge of the mattress.

Iii-will be understood that I do noilimitmyself to the incorporation oi.my invention in springdieds, though I have described said invention asapplied to a spring-died, said improvements being equally applicable toenshions, car-seats, sofas, upholstered articles, &e., as has beenbefore stated.

The foregoin description and aecom mirving drawings setforth in detailmechanism in embodiment of my invention. Change may, therefore, be madetherein, provided the principles of construction respectively recited inthe following claims are retained and employed.

I therefore particularly point tinetly claim as my invention 1. Thecoinl ination of a woven wire mattress and a series of spiralsupporting-Springs, the upper extremity of said springs being woven intothe mattress in a right line, the extremity of one spring engaging withthe extremity of an adjacent springof the series, whereby saidextremities form a substantially continuous wire interwoven in themattress, substantially as set forth.

2. The comhi n ation, with a woven-wiremattress, of a series of spiralsupporting-springs, the upper extremities of said springs being woveninto said mattress in a right line parallel to one of the boundaries ofthe mattress, the extremity of one spring overlapping the extremity ofthe adjacent spring of the series, whereby said extremities form asubstantially continuous wire interwoven in the mattress, substantiallyas set forth.

out and d is- .J. The combination, with a frame-work composed ofintersecting rods circular in crosssection and crimped at theirintersecting points, oi a series of springs secured at the f points ofintersection, one or more of said springs having a double engagementwith both the longitudinal and the transverse rods of said frame-work,the double engagement with the transverse rod being on opposite sides ofthe longitudinal rod, the double engage ment with the longitudinal rodbeing on opposite sides of the transverse rod, substan- I tially as setforth.

l. The combination,with at'rame-work composcd oi intersmstiug rodscrimped at their point of intersection, oi? a series of springs securedat said intersecting points, one spring passing over the longitiulinalrod, thence under the intersecting rod, thence again over thelongitudinal rod, and again engaging with the intersecting rod, theadjacent spring of the series having an alternate engagement firstaround the intersecting rod, thence under the lmigitudinal rod, overintersecting rod, the engagements of the springs with the intersectionsthus forming a brace one to the other, substantially as set forth.

5. The combination of a woven-wire mattress, a metallic supporting-tramecomposed of rods circular in cross-section and crimped at their pointsof intersection, a series of spiral supporting-springs intermediate ofthe mattress and supporting-iframe, said springs respectively located atsaid intersecting points, the upper extremity of said springsrespectively being woven into said mattress in a right line, the upperextremity of one spring engaging with the upper extremity of an adjacentspring, the lower extremities of said springs having a double engagementwith each of the two .rods forming the point of intersection to whichsaid spring is attached, substan tially as setforth.

(i. The combination of a woven-wire inattress, the strands of whichextend transversely oi the bed, a metallic supporting-frame composed ofa series of rods circular in cross-section andextending transversely andlongitudinally oi the bed, the rods being erimped at their points ofintersection, and a series of spiral springs, each of said springslocated at one of said intersecting points, the upper extremity of eachof said springs being interi woven in the meshes of said mattresslongitudin ally of the bed, the lower extremity of each of said springshaving an encircling and l a secondary bearing on each oi the two rods,forming an intersection of said supportingframe, substantially as setforth.

5 In testimony that I claim the foregoing to be my invention I havehereunto i y hand 1 this QBth day of February, A. 1888.

I DANIEL H. GAIL.

\l'itnesses:

LtfLU Kinney, J. B. FAY.

rod, and again engaging with longitudinal I:

